Nigeria’s National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, unsafe and expired consumer products worth over N20 billion.
The unwholesome products cut across pharmaceuticals, beverages, cosmetics and consumer products. The destruction of the unwholesome products which according to NAFDAC were all seized in the Southwest geopolitical zone took place at Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to statement from the agaency, “NAFDAC destroyed counterfeit, expired, banned, and substandard products valued at N20 billion during its South-West Zonal Destruction Flag-off Ceremony at the Moniya Dumpsite in Ibadan, Oyo State. This exercise is part of NAFDAC’s continuous efforts to safeguard public health by ensuring that unsafe, falsified, and violative products are permanently removed from circulation.”
NAFDAC said that “the destroyed products included substandard and falsified medicines, unsafe processed foods, counterfeit cosmetics, and various expired items seized from manufacturers, importers, and distributors across the South-West. The exercise also covered expired and damaged products voluntarily submitted by compliant companies, NGOs, and trade groups.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the strong collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, noting the recent handover of 25 containers of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals, including a reefer container, for destruction.
She also acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the sustained national fight against counterfeiters.
